Shadows Of Tomorrow

From Steven Pinker to edge.org

Q. Tell me something about time. Anything regarding time, from predictions of the future, the present, things that we can learn from the past. Or even about time itself.

A.The way we perceive time is faddish, There are people living the way they have for thousands of years, and there are people living like -- well, San Francisco. ’Some are not changing in fundamental ways. Time is subjective to your environment

Q. Do you believe in the possibility for a more prosperous mankind? If so what gives you hope?

A.Things have been getting better, every parent wants their kids life to be better than their own. Children are the cause for change.

Q. Tell me something about time. Anything regarding time, from predictions of the future, the present, things that we can learn from the past. Or even about time itself.

D. Too much to do. We need focus on and encourage people to stop thinking about things being done, we should focus on the process, and doing good work. Work is never done, things change in the course of a lifetime; stay flexible.

Q. Do you believe in the possibility for a more prosperous mankind? If so what gives you hope?

D. Progress is possible but it’s a bumpy road, there is fallback.

Pessimists bring up old issues, but optimists ultimately focus on real scientific possibilities of visionaries. There are visions of how humanity might live within the exploration of other planets and AI. Not too optimistic not utopian, but something is possible.

Another aspect is the use of a better social contract, an understanding of what humans should have between its people and its government, needs to be brought into question. And the acceptance that non-linear progress is possible.